About GICS
The Global Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Critical and Emerging Technology (CET) Standards (GICS Program) is a cooperative agreement between the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy (CDP). This three-year program focuses on capacity building for target countries in international standards development as well as the domestic and regional adoption of international standards in the ICT and CET sectors. The program covers an array of countries in six geographical regions, including South and Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and North Africa, the Western Hemisphere, and Europe.
The GICS aims to support an international standards development process grounded in transparency, private sector leadership and public sector support, and broad technical participation; enhance like-minded nations’ representation and an expanded number of countries that are aligned with the vision of the United States; and assist countries in adopting international standards.
Through a two-tiered capacity building approach with in-person workshops held regionally and a global alumni network for follow-on activities, this program’s engagement with stakeholders such as national standards bodies and private sector technical experts within and across regions will serve as a nexus point in regional and international relationship building, developing and maintaining an interconnected cohort to strengthen cooperation in standardization with the U.S. and other partner countries.
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Sectoral Focus
Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
Includes all categories of ubiquitous technology used for the gathering, storing, transmitting, retrieving, or processing of information, such as microelectronics, printed circuit boards, computing systems, software, signal processors, mobile telephony, satellite communications, and networks.
Critical and Emerging Technologies (CET)
A subset of advanced technologies that are deemed strategically important for a nation's economic prosperity and national security; particularly but not limited to artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, communications and networking technologies, quantum information technologies, and semiconductors.
Program
The GICS Program is comprised of events across the program regions in three different activity categories.
Broad-Based Foundational Training Workshop
This foundational-level training is designed to increase the capacity of a multitude of participants from public and private sectors to participate in the international standards development lifecycle. Each training will have different thematic and sectoral focuses to best address challenges and opportunities in the regions.
Advanced Capacity Building Training Workshop
This advanced-level training is targeted at selected group of high-potential participants mainly from the Broad-Based Foundation Training, who are most able to disseminate the information learned back home and create a sustainable learning environment in their organizations, and can effectively participate in or support their nations or organization’s role across international standards development organizations (SDOs).
Global Alumni Network and Follow-On Engagement
The end of the training is not the end of learning and engaging. To support continued learning and engagement, the program will establish and sustain a global alumni network of participants. Through this network, participants will gain access to ongoing resources, connection tools, and information about relevant international standards conferences and activities, enabling them to stay involved and continue sharing knowledge beyond the workshops.
Get Involved and Share Your Expertise
ANSI welcomes U.S. experts from the ANSI Federation to participate in this program as workshop lecturers and mentors, contributing your knowledge and experience to support global capacity building in ICT and CET standards development and implementation.
By participating, you will have the opportunity to engage with professionals from around the world, share U.S. best practices, and help shape the next generation of leaders in the field. Your involvement as a subject matter expert or mentor will play a vital role in fostering international collaboration, advancing technical understanding, and promoting the value of the U.S. standards system globally.
If you or your organization would like to get involved, please email [email protected] with your interest and proposal.
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Upcoming Events
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EUROPE QUANTUM TECHNOLOGIES BROAD-BASED TRAINING
WARSAW, POLAND
Sep 29 - Oct 1, 2026, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
This three-day training workshop helped participants develop necessary skills and deepen their understanding of local, regional, and international standards development processes. Additionally, participants were introduced to the current state of artificial intelligence standardization within the ASEAN context and across the globe, and learn about how to effectively engage with ongoing international standardization efforts in this critical technology.
This three-day workshop will equip participants with the skills to engage in quantum technological standards development at the local, regional, and international levels. It will introduce the evolving landscape of quantum standardization, including key initiatives within international bodies, and provide participants with insights on how to effectively contribute to and shape these efforts.
The event will be split into three thematic sessions.
- Day 1 will focus on local and national standardization fundamentals and the best practices for initiating and strengthening domestic participation.
- Day 2 will examine the international standardization ecosystem, with particular attention to key fora such as ISO/IEC JTC 3, as well as the business and strategic impact of standards in scaling quantum technologies.
- Day 3 will center on implementation and action, enabling participants to translate insights into country-level action plans, and explore pathways to enhance collaboration and participation in international standardization efforts.
SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA AI BROAD-BASED TRAINING
Date and location TBD
Similar to the broad-based training on artificial intelligence in other regions, this three-day training workshop will help participants develop necessary skills and deepen their understanding of local, regional, and international standards development processes for AI.
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